Physical-culture apparatus



May 22, 1923.

W. D. MOLBY PHYSICAL CULTURE APPARATUS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Sent. 3.1921 May 22, 1923.

W. D. MOLBY PHYSICAL CULTURE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed sem. 3.1921 WJZMOZ'? www M minima:

Patented May 22, i923..

WALTER nAvi'D r/roLBY, or BALDWIN CITY., KANSAS,

PHYSICAL-CULTURE ArrAitAtrUs.l

Application filed September 3, 1921. SerialiNo. 498,852.

To @ZZ whomv 2f 'may concern.'

Be it known that l, lWALTER DAviD MOLBY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baldwin City, in the county of Douglas and State of Kansas,have invented certain newA and useful improvementsl in Physical-CultureApparatus; and I dohereby declarefthe following to be a full, clear, andexactl de- 'scription of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The presentinventionrelates to exercising or f physical-cultureapparatus.

object of the present invention is to )rovide an au )aratus of thischaracter adapted for individual use and which is adapted toplace'thebody under tension from head to foot, and which is designed tosupport the body under tension of its own weight. 1 y

The invention further aims at the provision of'an apparatus of thischaracter which is relatively light in weight,vwhich is of knock downconstruction, and which is adjustableaccording to the heightofpersonsusing the apparatus. K y

A. further object is to provide an apparatus of this character with aresilient frame having spaced apart uprights and independ` ent devicesfor attachment to the head and feet for supporting the body undertension of its own weight and to permit of the yielding of the frameincident to vibration of the body and to thus absorb shock which isdetrimentalY and injurious.

The invention has for a still further object, the provisionofaphysical-culture apparatus of this type wherein provision is made foreasing up tension on the neck and head of the user when desired and forcompletelysupporting the body at times of rest,

the apparatus permitting of various contor-r tions. revolutions andswinging of the body in taking exercises when suspended in theapparatus.

With the foregoing and other objectsin view. the invention will be morefully ldescribed hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed outin the claims appended hereto.

In the'drawings, whereinlike symbols' re- -fer to-lilre or correspondingparitsthroughout :the `several views, .l

Fig. 1'is'a perspective view of a physical'- culture apparatusconstructed laccording to the present invention andV illustrating aperson suspended therein;

Fig 21s a top plan view of the saine with the person removed;

Fig. 3 is a view-similarIu to Fig. 1, showing f the body supportdetached;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view, partly.V in seotion, of the chinstrap 'orsupport; l

Fig.v 9 is a transverse section taken through the same on the linev 9--9of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of the adjustable footrbar,showing the sup(- porting member therefor in dotted lines; and,

Fig. 11 ,is a transversel section taken through thev same.l Y fReferring to the drawings by numeral@I the apparatus comprises a'resilientfframe yformed 'of' a pair'of' bow sections 15 and 16" whichare arranged with straight intermediate portions adapted to. rest up'onthe'ground and with curved orA rounded upstandin'g ends providingresilient standards adapted to flex toward and from each otheras willhereinafter be pointed out. of the bows 15 and 16 are provided withcomplemental bearing headsv 17l forming hinge sections and the heads'llateach end ofV the'frame are adapted to fit one against the other' andare heldin such relation by hinge bolt 18 which is clamped co-axiallythrough the sections 17 by-.a Vnut 19 `or. the like. The bolts 18 in theopposite endsi of theframe are inca-axial alignment, or substantiallyso, and the inner. ends -of the. bolts are arched downwardly to form'hooks l20 for pivotally supporting the head and foot sections of theapparatus.`

Each of the bows 15 and 16 isppreferably formed in three sections, amain doorl sec* tion which is substantiallystraight, and opposite endcurved seotions'vl-L and 16..i which are' preferably sookete'd upontheir resp'ieotive floor sections '15 and 16." This construc- 'lhe freeendsvtion admits of the quick'iknocking down of these sections fortransportation-fand the` socketslprovidemeans for .holding they bofwisections` together .under weight of the occu-y pant or user of thedevicei Thehead section comprises ayoke 21 of Ufshape curved to theconfiguration of the Mounted upon the yokeu21-is` a flexible head'engage over the adjacent hook 'i`or pivotally@suspending;v the yoke-21on theghook.

frame ,23' ott-suitabley fabric meshing,` which forms a pocket toreceivejthe back Aof the.

headY forsuppo'rting it iin' the yoke. 21. The

free ends of the yoke-21 are yturned out-" -wardly awa-y from each-otherto form handies 24e4 extending fromthe sides of the head section andwhich are adapted vto be grasped by theluser-forsupporting the bodyv andrelieving the head and neck from tension. Y

yllhe'head. isvheld in the pocket 23 by a in Figsfdand 9, comprisesastra-p portion ranged to swing inwardly andvdownwardly` pivotallyconnected at its free endstas at26, t0 lthe opposite sides of the yoke21, and arvto'the'open end of *they yoke to engage beneath the chinforsupporting the head'.l The strap `25 .is preferably nrovidedfinits'closed end with a pneumatic cushion 270i sufli'cient y length to tengage-,beneath the chin and against the sidescf the `jaw boneto prevent`tlle `directcontact of the' strap125 withthe s in.

,-:The foot attaching section comprises .a chain 28,A orl othersuitable. flexible device which may be connected by a swivel eye 29detachablyto the other hook 20 of the frame.

`The ehain28 presents a'longitudinalirow of rings orloops--for'adjustably receiving there-f in a hoo k ,30 whichsmaybeadjustedv in' various positions with respect toits distance 'from thesaid hook 20. Thehook 30 is oscilr.la'torily connected upon al cross arm31 which ext-ends transverselyoi the chain 28- and bef yonjd theopposite sides thereof. Thel `hook 1 30 maybe connectedy in any suitablemanner tothej cross arm 31 which will permit the hook 30 to oscillate'withthe rocking motion of the ieetwhile lthe entirel device .is revolveling, and so that the hook'130 may be quickly engaged'fandvreleased irelatively to the con* necting chain 28.

cro'ss'bar'Blcari-ies upon its opposite ends stocks 32 adapted toreceive and sup f of-xthe side pieces 32 and beingV arched. up#

port the feet of the user 'for suspendingfthe lower end of tliebody bythe/feet Asbest shown in Figs. 6 and A7, each foot stock com`.prisesravpair of sidenmembersin the form of ystrapswhich` are,stitched'together :at theirE lower'endsfalonga line'of stitching 33,the

linefoi" stitching-33 extendingtransversely for the bottom of the footand for snugly andl comfortably engaging;y the foot The -upper ends ofthe side members 32 are'preferably overturned'. on crease linesextending substantially 450 to v'form later'- ally projecting lugs 34ewhich have apertures 35y therein through which theaend portions 36 of.the cross bar 31 pivotally connect. A locking strap 37 is attachedtoone of the side members 32 and is of sufficient length to extend overthe spaced upper ends, of the 'p side membersand is adapted to besecured.v in

positionby suitable fasteners 38 or the like` thus flexible and conformreadilyy to the feet and'A thus provide a relativelycomfortable foot,hold which .is also -very secure.

any suitable angle from the body portionof the halter 32 for the purposeof gripping the foot or ankle and lfor securely maintaining the footinthehalter. f

lf desired, the` apparatus may be pro- Of t course the--securing-strap37f1nay extend at chin strap 25 which, as shown particularly vided witha body supportor rest 39 in the form of ahainmock or other suitableflexible sheet. This support `,3,9 is gathered at the head: end andprovided with abinding strap iO'fcontaining/loops l1 which may bethreaded over the handles 24h` to support the head endof the'hamm'ock 39upon the yoke 21. The hammock 39 is provided `withparm loops i2 atopposite edges'v and through which, as shown in Fig. 1, thearmsvof the.user lmaybeinserted for supporting the bodyf y toa more or less extentbyexerting down-f y ward pressure upon the-loops 42. The foot end of the`hammock 39 is provided at oppol site edges with :longitudinalextensions a5 which are `secured at their' free ends toa bow 16 sovas-tosupport'the:footend of the hammock. The loo-ps 42 at'oppositesides of thehammock or support 39 are so arranged, l

as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, that the forearms y l maybe inserted throughthe loops with the" latter'engaging the forearms a short.disA

tance'belowv the elbows, in such position thel y forearms may befswungdownwardly; Vor

away .fromvv the shouldersv at. substantially l right'angles to drawupon thefloops 42 and' Vthus support the .body from. the hammock .120,vi

39 and relievethe neck and head from all strain. This is'well known to'bathe most' comfortable and efficient means ofrelieving the body ofstrain and supporting the'body without placing the muscles under undue.

tension. l

The centra-l portion 49 of the hammock body is reduced in width andextends beneath the chain 28 and may be attached to the bow i6 as shown.To remove the lhammock support 39 from `the apparatus; it yis onlynecessary to slip the hook 47 from the swivel -eye 29 and `to remove theloops el from the handles 2l. :lis shown in Fig. 3, the support 39 isremoved and the chain 28 is shown as beingree at its end and used onlyvlor cr 1ryingthe footengaging stocks The side rmembers or sections l5and 16 of the trame are held from spreading apart beyond apre-determined distance by flexible straps 50 which are convenientlysecured at preferably opposite ends of the trame for bracing the bowsagainst separation.

In use, the person desiring to use the apparatus places feet inthestocks 32 and securest-he retaining straps v3'? over the vfeet tovsecurely hold -the feet in the stocks. The head is placed in theyoke2l-and in a position to rest in the support or pocket 23. The chin strap25'is now swung down over the tace and engaged beneath the chin forholding y'the head in the head rest. During the operation and use `ofthe device, the operator may grasp the handles 24 and elevate the upperend of the body upon the handles so as to relieve the head and neck fromsuch strain-as is imposed-on them incident to supporting the body.

When the hammock is used, as shown in l and 2, the body rest entirely inthe hammock 'during the operation of attaching ones Seli" in the frameand may also be used for supporting` the body in a state of rest whenthe user is fatigued. It is apparent that with the device shown in Figs.l and 2, the body may be swung, revolved or twisted in various Ways toobtain the desired result oi bringing into play various normally littleused muscles and also for stretching the body and performing otheroperations of exercise.

It is also apparent from F ig. 3 that when the hammock or support 39 isremoved, the body has greater freedom. of action and the movements ofthe body may be more easily observed. The hammock or support 39 isdivided into various strips or sections 45 and 49 to provide ample yroomthrough which the feet and legs may project for fastening the feet inthe stocks and for performing the various exercises.

lt is apparent that the apparatus is very light in weight, is resilientin so iar that the uprights at the ends of the 'frame are tree to flextoward and trom each other, and the device may be quickly and easilycollapsed into small space and packed out of the way or may easily betransported.

It is obvious that various changes and modications may be made in thedetails of construction and design oi"- the above specifically describedembodiment ot this invention without departing 'from the spirit thereof,such changes and modilications being restricted only by the scope of thefollowing claims:

lWhat is claimed is:

l. In `physical culture apparatus, a trame having ,resilient vspacedupright end portions, and freely pivoted means carried by said endportions lfor engaging the opposite extremities ol the body ot theyoperator tor suspending his body between said upright portions andpermitting the free twisting bending and turning of the body by theexercising contortions ot the operator.

2. In physical culture apparatus, a 'pair of upright spaced supports, a:head engaging member freely pivoted on one support, a foot engagingmember, and means adjustably and freely pivotally connecting the vfootengaging member to the 'other support..

whereby lto 4adapt said apparatus to operators of different lengths'andpermit the tree turning and twisting ot the operatorwhen suspended inthe supports.

3. In physical culture apparatus-,fa 4trame having resilient spacedapart supports, a head engaging member freely pivoted onio'ne support, afoot engaging member adjust-ably mounted upon the other Vsupport andarranged tor free pivotal movement thereon,

said members being adapted v-to engage the opposite extremities `of the`body oit the operator for suspending the-body under tension of theweight of the operator, and a rest suspended between said head andfootengaging members to receive the body of the operator and support thesame when relieved of tension from said members.

t. In physical culture apparatus, a twopartbow frame, means for hingedlyconnecting adjacent ends of the two-parts of the frame together, a headsection swivelly connected to one end of the frame, and having handlesthereon for relieving the head of the tension of the body, a footsection swivelly connected to the other end of the trame, and a supportdetachably connected to said head and toot sections and having armengaging straps, whereby said support may be used with and independentlyof said head and foot sections for supporting the weight ol' the body.

5. In physical culture apparatus, a frame having spaced upstandingsupports, a head rest swivelled upon one of the supports and having apocket portion adapted to receive the back of the head therein, a chinstrap pivoted upon the head rest and arranged to swing down over theface and beneath the chain to hold the head in the rest and adapted tobe swung upwardly tov 'free the head, foot engaging means mounted on theother upright of the frame,- and handles connected to the head rest forsupporting the weight of the body and on the head and neck.

6, ln physical culture apparatus, a frame having space. supports, a headsection `on relieving strain one support, a chain connected to the otherfoot engaging memberbeing adapted to sus-y pend the body of the operatorbetween thel supports and a detachable hammock mounted at opposite endsupon the head rest and foot engaging member.

8. In physical culture apparatus, a collapsible frame, detachable footand head eni gaging sections carried by the frame, said y ing and adetachable hammock support carried' head engagingsection having handengagmeans for relieving the head ofstrain,

inthe frame for engaging beneath the body of the operatorand having armengaging means for: relieving the body of its weight.

9, In physical cultureapparatuga -frame having spaced supports, a headrest mounted v on one support, a cross bar radjustably mounted on theother supportfor movement toward and fromthe head rest, and a pair offoot stocks pivoted uponk the cross bar forv clamping engagement withthe feet whereby totsuspend the body ofthe operator i between said barand the head rest. 10.` In physicalculture apparatus, a frame havingspaced supports, a head portion mounted on one support, afoot engagingportion on. the other support, said foo-t engagingpo'rtion comprising achain, across barA adjustably mounted on the chain for movement towardand from the head enga@- ing portion, and a pair of stocks pivotalll`rmounted upon the opposite ends of' the cross bar and adaptedrto engagethe feet for susit f pending the body of vthe voperator between thecross bar'and the head engaging portion.

1l. In physical culture apparatus, a frame having spaced upri ht's, headand foot sections mounted -int e uprights adapted to respectively engagethe head and the feet, a

hammock suspended between said head and foot sections adapted to supportthe body at times, anda pair of loops carried upon the opposite edges ofVsaid hammock 'near thesaid head section for receiving theforearmstherethrough, lsaid loops extending away romsaid head section wherebyswingin@ of the forearms downwardly `at substantiablly right angles tothe `longitudinal a'Xis.

of the device is adapted to supportithe body inthe hammock kand relievethe head and neck from strain'.

y WALTER DAVID Monnr`

